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Tokico Illumina or KTB AGX ??? Please Tell me!!!!

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Old 11-09-04, 08:10 PM
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Question Tokico Illumina or KTB AGX ??? Please Tell me!!!!

I am planning on getting a set of adjustible shocks....i was wondering which of these are better and more reliable ???
The Tokico's cost about $80 more than the KYB's

Please tell me and feed back or experiences you have with these shocks.
Thanks!!!!!!!!!!
Old 11-09-04, 08:25 PM
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I have only owned the tokicos and I loved them, they made a huge difference in the car.
Old 11-09-04, 08:26 PM
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i have the agx adjustables they are 4 way adjustable and they work great but i hear the illuminas are like the best for rx7s
Old 11-09-04, 08:54 PM
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KYB AGX's - wider damping range


-Ted
Old 11-09-04, 08:56 PM
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I've got AGX's and like them a lot. Do you have to cut up and use part of the stock struts in order to install the Tokico's?
-John
Old 11-09-04, 10:12 PM
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^ I think only Koni requires that you modify to install.

I have illuminas on my old s5 NA and have AGX's on my current t2. I like the AGX's more.
Old 11-09-04, 10:47 PM
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I want the agx's just becuase you don't have to take the rear speakers out every time to adjust them.
Old 11-09-04, 10:54 PM
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Tokico's have a lifetime warrenty. Out of the three most common choices for FCs, only the front Konis are cartridges requiring you to cut up another shock.
Old 11-09-04, 11:21 PM
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aahh...so Koni's are the ones that require cutting the stock shock. Thanks for correcting me!
-John
Old 11-09-04, 11:40 PM
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AGX's also have a lifetime warranty.
Old 11-10-04, 12:20 AM
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Originally Posted by RETed
KYB AGX's - wider damping range


-Ted

Besides damping range, what are the other factors that the two different shocks could be compared on?
Old 11-10-04, 07:05 PM
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Originally Posted by End3r
Besides damping range, what are the other factors that the two different shocks could be compared on?
For racers, damping range is the most important criteria.
I've seen shock dynos between the Tokico and the KYB AGX units, and the AGX's have always surpassed the Tokico Illumina damping ranges.

For adjustability, it's hands-down for the AGX's cause the rear shocks are 8-way adjustable on the AGX, while the Illuminas are only 5-way adjustable - more adjustments allow for better fine tuning of the rear shocks.
If you run rear speakers, the Illuminas needs to be adjusted from the top, as hypothermix79 has mentioned, while the AGX's are adjusted from underneath the car - allowing you to not molest the rear speakers if you need a change.
The AGX fronts are 4-way adjustable verus the Illumina 5-way, but you do most of the shock adjustment to the rears.

Both are drop-in units that replace the OEM shocks with very little fuss.

KYB AGX's are usually cheaper than the Tokico Illuminas - most people like that.


-Ted
Old 11-10-04, 07:10 PM
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ebay has the AGX for $350
Old 11-10-04, 07:17 PM
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I had AGX's installed for about 3 years on my honda accord with coil overs and after a couple of years I decided to drop it more from the back and they ended up lasting me a year after that.
I did have the setting at 4 for the life of the shock though so MAYBE that had somthing to do with it but im not sure. Also the fact that an accord is completly diffrent than an FC could have somthing to do with it.
It does clearly state however in the instructions that the AGX shock is not designed for any kind of lower than stock setup. So dont go crazy dropping your cars either guys.
Old 11-10-04, 07:49 PM
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Extreme drops will kill almost any shock not made for such drops.
As a rule-of-thumb, anything more than 1" is asking for it.

For a while, all the dumbfuck Honda idiots down here were like..."Oh yeah, don't buy Tokico's cause they all die within a year. I had them on my SLAMMED Civic/Accord/Integra..."

duh

I've had my Tokico Illuminas for over 7 years now, and they are fine.
I do run Ground Control coilovers and they are a little bit more than 1" drop, but the Tokicos are still holding up fine all these years.


-Ted
Old 11-11-04, 05:41 PM
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If you like the AGX's more, why don't you use them?
Old 11-11-04, 06:44 PM
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I have always used Illumina's but I have heard that the AGX's hold up to stiffer springs better.

I was told that as you pass 400 to 500 pound springs that the Illumina's tend to turn the shaft blue which is a sure sign of impending failure.

Illumina's used to be cheaper but now it seems that the AGX's are cheaper.

ed
Old 11-12-04, 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by End3r
If you like the AGX's more, why don't you use them?
I've had my Illuminas for a LONG time.
Right now, I don't feel I need to replace them with the KYB AGX's.
Back when I got my Illuminas, the AGX's weren't even available.


-Ted
Old 11-13-04, 05:57 AM
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I'm glad someone finally made a thread about this I was gonna ask the same question eventually... right now I'm running ground control adjustable springs on my stock struts and it feels fine but I haven't ever had brand new struts either... how did it feel compared to stock struts on yours with ground controls ReTed? or do you know?
Old 11-14-04, 05:53 AM
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Originally Posted by GTU_FAN
how did it feel compared to stock struts on yours with ground controls ReTed? or do you know?
I run the older 400/275 combo, so it's on the stiffer side.
I know GC has a milder combo 350/225(?), so I dunno which combo you're running.
I don't think my stiffer combo would work very well with the stock struts; the Tokicos are close to being maxed out, so the spring rate is almost too stiff for the Illuminas.


-Ted
Old 11-14-04, 10:28 AM
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Will eibach pro kit springs kill AGX's? Teh pro kit springs dropped my car a good bit.
Old 11-14-04, 03:10 PM
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A lot of people run the pro kit with the AGX's actually. I had them on but after driving on them wish I went with linear springs instead of progressive.
Old 11-14-04, 03:16 PM
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I have run both and like the agx better with my current set up.(very stiff) just don't go more then 1.5 " drop or you will bottem out the struts= destory...on any big bumps...
Old 11-14-04, 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by ilike2eatricers
A lot of people run the pro kit with the AGX's actually. I had them on but after driving on them wish I went with linear springs instead of progressive.
I had this setup on my old n/a, and I liked it alot. They seemed to give less body roll than my current AE, while at the same time being noticably softer.
Old 11-14-04, 08:22 PM
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Originally Posted by Molotovman
Will eibach pro kit springs kill AGX's? Teh pro kit springs dropped my car a good bit.
Are these the progressive rate ones?
The drop should not be that significant.
Eibach quotes 0.75" drop for these springs.


-Ted



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